First Sentences
238 Words
Alex Honnold is a man.
He is from the United States.
He is a climber.
He climbs big rocks.
He climbs with his hands.
He climbs with his feet.
He climbs alone.
He does not use a rope.
This climb is called free solo.
Alex wants to climb a big rock.
The rock is called El Capitan.
El Capitan is very tall.
The rock is in a park.
The park is in California.
Most climbers use ropes.
Ropes help people stay safe.
Alex does not use a rope.
Free solo is very dangerous.
A fall can be very bad.
Alex practices many times.
He practices with a rope first.
He learns the path.
He remembers every move.
He trains his body.
He trains his mind.
Alex wants to stay calm.
He wants to be careful.
One day, he is ready.
He puts on climbing shoes.
He takes chalk for his hands.
He starts to climb.
He climbs slowly.
He moves one hand.
He moves one foot.
He goes up and up.
He does not stop.
He does not fall.
After many hours, he reaches the top.
He is happy.
He smiles.
Many people say “Wow.”
Some people feel scared for him.
Alex says he loves climbing.
He likes nature.
He likes hard things.
He does not climb for money.
He climbs because he loves it.
A movie shows his climb.
Many people watch the movie.
Alex keeps climbing.
Level 1 Reader
458 Words
Alex Honnold Climbs a Big Rock
Alex Honnold is a man from the United States. He is a climber. He climbs big rocks and tall mountains. He climbs with his hands and feet. He does not use a rope. He climbs alone. This is called “free solo.”
The Big Rock
Alex wants to climb a big rock. The rock is called El Capitan. It is in Yosemite National Park in California. El Capitan is very tall. It is about 900 meters high. That is taller than two Eiffel Towers!
What Is Free Solo?
Most climbers use ropes. Ropes help climbers stay safe. But Alex does not use a rope. He climbs without help. He climbs alone. This is free solo climbing.
Free solo is very dangerous. If Alex makes a mistake, he can fall. If he falls, he can die. He must be very careful.
Getting Ready
Alex wants to climb El Capitan with no rope. First, he practices with a rope. He climbs again and again. He learns the path. He remembers every move.
He trains his body. He also trains his mind. He must stay calm. He must not be afraid. He must think clearly.
The Climb
One day, Alex is ready. He puts on his climbing shoes. He takes a small bag with chalk. Chalk keeps his hands dry. He does not take a rope. He does not take a helmet.
He starts to climb. He climbs slowly. He moves one hand, then one foot. He goes up and up. The rock is very steep. He keeps climbing.
He does not stop. He does not fall.
The Top
After almost four hours, Alex reaches the top. He did it! He climbed El Capitan with no rope. He is happy. He smiles. He feels free.
Many people say, “Wow!” Some people say, “That is too dangerous!” But Alex says, “I love climbing. I feel alive.”
Why He Climbs
Why does Alex do this? Why does he take the risk?
Alex says, “I love climbing. I like nature. I like to do hard things. I do not want to die. I prepare. I train. I am careful.”
He does not climb for money. He climbs because he loves it.
A Movie
A movie team follows Alex. They film his climb. The movie is called Free Solo. It shows Alex getting ready. It shows his big climb.
Many people watch the movie. It wins a big prize. Alex becomes famous. But he stays simple. He lives in a van. He eats simple food. He climbs rocks.
New Goals
After climbing El Capitan, Alex keeps climbing. He helps other people too. He starts a group to help the planet. He gives money to help people use clean energy.
Level 2 Reader
530 Words
The Man Who Climbed Without a Rope
In 2017, a man named Alex Honnold did something amazing. He climbed a huge rock wall called El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the United States. El Capitan is 900 meters tall. That’s like climbing three Eiffel Towers on top of each other!
But what made this climb so special?
Alex climbed it without a rope.
What Is Free Solo Climbing?
Most people who climb big walls use ropes, helmets, and other safety gear. This helps protect them if they fall. But free solo climbing is different. Free solo climbers use only their hands and feet. There is no rope, no helmet, and no safety if something goes wrong.
It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
One small mistake can mean death.
Alex Honnold is the most famous free solo climber in the world. He trains hard and plans every move. He knows the risk. But for him, it’s not about danger. It’s about doing something perfectly.
The Climb of His Life
Alex dreamed about climbing El Capitan without a rope for many years. Before he tried it, he practiced the climb many times with a rope. He studied the wall carefully. He remembered every tiny hold for his hands and feet.
He also trained his body and his mind. He practiced yoga, ate healthy food, and lived in a van so he could be close to nature. He even wrote notes about each part of the climb. Some moves were easy. Others were very hard—even dangerous.
One of the most difficult parts of the climb was a small move called “the Boulder Problem.” In this part, Alex had to hold onto a tiny edge with his fingers and move his foot across a blank wall. If he fell here, there was no way to survive.
A Quiet Morning
On June 3, 2017, Alex woke up early. The weather was perfect. He wore a red shirt, climbing shoes, and carried a small bag of chalk to keep his hands dry. That was all.
He started to climb at 5:32 in the morning. Step by step, he moved up the rock. There were no ropes. No team. No second chances.
After 3 hours and 56 minutes, he reached the top.
He did it.
He became the first person to free solo El Capitan.
A World Record
Alex’s climb shocked the world. Many climbers said it was the greatest climbing achievement ever. A famous photographer and filmmaker, Jimmy Chin, made a movie about it called Free Solo. The film won an Oscar in 2019.
But Alex didn’t climb for fame. He climbed for the feeling of focus, freedom, and peace. He says, “I feel most alive when I’m climbing.”
Why Did He Do It?
Some people think Alex is crazy. Others think he is brave. He knows that what he does is dangerous. But he is not trying to take risks just to feel fear. He wants to test himself. He wants to see what humans can do when they train, plan, and believe in themselves.
Alex says, “I don’t want to die. I want to live life fully.”
Level 3 Reader
612 Words
Alex Honnold’s Climb of El Capitan
In 2017, the world watched in awe as a young American climber, Alex Honnold, achieved something no one had ever done before. He became the first person to climb El Capitan without any ropes or safety gear. This kind of climbing is called “free soloing,” and it is considered one of the most dangerous sports in the world. One small mistake could lead to death.
El Capitan is a giant rock face in Yosemite National Park in California, USA. It is over 900 meters tall — about the same height as three Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other. For most climbers, even with ropes and protection, climbing El Capitan takes several days. But Alex Honnold did it in just under four hours, using only his hands and feet to hold onto tiny edges and cracks in the rock.
Alex had been preparing for this climb for years. He knew that free soloing El Capitan would require not just strength and skill, but complete mental control. Any fear or hesitation could be fatal. He spent months studying every part of the route, called “Freerider.” He memorized each move and practiced them many times using ropes. Only when he felt completely ready did he attempt the climb without any protection.
The day of the climb, Alex woke up early. He wore a simple T-shirt and climbing pants, and carried only a small bag of chalk to keep his hands dry. He moved smoothly and quickly up the rock. At one point, he had to perform a move called the “karate kick,” where he stretched his leg across a wide gap to reach the next foothold. This move was extremely risky. If he missed, he would fall to his death.
Throughout the climb, Alex remained calm and focused. He said later that he was not afraid. For him, the climb felt like a natural flow, as if he was dancing with the rock. He trusted his body and his preparation. By the time he reached the top, less than four hours had passed. The world was stunned. Even experienced climbers could hardly believe what he had done.
The climb was recorded by a film crew, but they faced a serious ethical challenge. If Alex fell, they would capture his death on camera. The filmmakers, who were also climbers and friends of Alex, had to decide whether they could handle the emotional pressure. In the end, they used remote cameras and kept a respectful distance to reduce the risk of distracting him. The result was the award-winning documentary Free Solo, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019.
After the climb, Alex became a global celebrity. But he has remained humble and private. He does not see himself as a hero. For him, climbing is a personal challenge — a way to explore his own mind and body. He believes in living simply and making choices that feel right for him, even if they seem extreme to others.
Many people admire Alex’s courage, but his style of climbing is not for everyone. Free soloing is extremely dangerous, and even the best climbers usually choose to use ropes and safety equipment. Alex is aware of the risks. He says that his goal is not to take risks, but to manage them with careful preparation.
Alex Honnold’s free solo of El Capitan is one of the greatest athletic achievements of our time. It shows what a human being can do when physical ability, mental strength, and passion come together. Whether or not one agrees with his choices, there is no denying the beauty, danger, and inspiration of that incredible climb.
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